Monday, December 20, 2010

This is Part 1 - Whats going on in Online LearningPart 2 - is here - Social Networking etc.

Expectations From the ConferenceI work as Technology Integration Specialist at the Foreign Language Center (FLC) at the Ohio State University (OSU). Even before I selected a conference to go to, I wanted to achieve a few goals from the trip/conference. These goals relate to enhancing online learning at the FLC and the various language departments. This hopefully will benefit other folks at OSU too. These were my primary queries:

What are the some of the major hardships in online learning?

What are the trends in social networking? New technologies?

Audio and video creation/updating and sharing?

How are other organizations using videoconferencing?

The Conference I picked the Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning. This conference fitted my search criteria and covered the topics that I was looking for - blended learning, international applications, open educational resources, social networking, and more. It did also help that it was in sunny Florida in November, which is usually when snow hits Ohio. The venue was the Caribe Royale Hotel and Convention Center, centrally located and nearby to the various theme parks that flood the Orlando region. Sessions AttendedLike most conferences, there were several concurrent sessions almost every hour and it was difficult to pick one over other. Its a good idea to try and come for conferences like these in a group/team so that important sessions can be covered. However I knew from past experiences that there would still be enough good sessions that I could attend.

Learning more about faculty response to online/blended learning was my principal goal. Uttendorfer in “Bringing Face-to-Face Instruction Back into Online Faculty Development” talked of the common problem that we face in online teaching i.e. of having different types of faculty with various skills levels and at various locations. He highlighted how they tried to bring the various faculty in the ‘same page’ by standardizing the methods to capture lecture (with Camtasia) and with the use of webinars (with Elluminate) for collaboration.

Storandt and Dossin also talked of the difficulty for faculty to transfer to online classes in their “Best Practices in Professional Development and Assessment for Online Instruction”. One of the primary reasons for this difficulty is due to the lack of support and training for the faculty. They reviewed the PBS TeacherLine service - a professional development resource for online course instructors. Such a model can certainly be used and/or adapted by other organizations as well.

I also wanted to learn a bit on what students thought of these online courses. According tostudies by Tao, Lim, and Bruder who presented “Why Do Our Online Students Stay?”, online students are significantly more likely to dropout than campus based students. They shared the results of their study and presented factors found to positively help retention. These included: enhancing the interaction between students and their instructor, offering on-time students support, and maintaining at least onesynchronous component among various asynchronous features.

It is evident that moving from a traditional course to an online/hybrid course requires a lot more than just the technology to support it. In their presentation Pyke and DeGodev mentioned that moving to an online or hybrid class is certainly not an easy process and it requires a LOT of planning. They stressed the need for a shared vision, the implications of having an institutional needfor redesign as a major driver, and the value of aligning departmental goals with the project.

Betts, from Drexel University also had very good suggestions for moving to an online course in “Online & Blended Program Sustainability: 10 Questions All Administrators Must Be Able to Answer.” Though online education has been growing at a very past pace, there have been lots of growing pains. It is very important to understand the economic and demographic factors that are changing the higher education landscape. She stressed the need to engage students and personalize the online educational experience.

Looks like the shift to online classes will continue and we as facilitators have to be prepared and provide the right technology and support.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

This is Part 2: Social Networking and my poster on videoconferencing at the FLC. Part 1 is here: Whats going on in Online Learning.

Social networking is certainly a hot topic in education. The conference had several sessions on social networking, web 2.0, and other related topics. I made a point to attend some of these sessions since this was one of my top criteria for attending the conference.

As expected the buzz on social networking was high, though it seemed that many were still not sure how (and why) to use social networking in the classroom. Hilbelink (Kaplan Higher Ed) stated that one of the issues with social networking sites is that they are in a constant state of change. The information can become overwhelming to absorb and difficult to filter and becomes frustrating to stay up-to-date. In her presentation she mentioned that social networking can add to a personal learning network, supplementing other learning and professional endeavors such as journal reading, conference participation, and association membership.

Though doubt on the use of social networks in classes was high, examples of successful social networking use were many. Stoloff, a professor from Eastern Connecticut State was using ePals to connect with other instructors, and participants made use of international virtual connections to supplement their understandings of education in other nations. In his colloquium, local students developed projects on cultural aspects of one of these nations – culture, music, food, etc. These presentations were posted on a wikispace/blog and the international participants were able to critique the presentations and to correspond with the local students. Through this international/intercultural exchange, undergraduates learned of commonalities and differences between student lives across the global. Connections like these give a better understanding of culture than just textbooks or Internet articles.

Shelly Nice (Berkeley College) agrees that social networking has moved beyond an emerging technology and is very common among students in higher education. In her presentation “Research on Using Social Networking in the Classroom” she stated that it is now possible to integrate Facebook into a traditional course and class material can be shared in various forms and from multiple media outlets: computers, cell phone, etc. The audience (as expected) was very interested in seeing how Facebook and similar social networking mediums could be used in education and had very good questions.

Poster Presentation - Videoconferencing Technology: Reaching Out to Learners All Over the World

The objective of my poster presentation was to share the various ways that the Foreign Language Center (FLC) has used videoconferencing technology to enhance language learning at Ohio State University (OSU). I have noted that in several other organizations videoconferencing (VC) systems get only used for some classes and very little else. At the FLC, we have found numerous ways to use the VC system to benefit the faculty, students, and the university community. Besides language classes the FLC has used videoconferencing for training seminars, different types of conferences, departmental meetings, interviews, dissertation defenses, meetings with various experts to talk to students, and more. The FLC hosted famous French musician Moussu T for a live concert and a Q/A session that was groundbreaking for a video based session. Other interesting events include career seminars, an American Sign Language (ASL) conference, talking to authors in various countries to discuss their books for learners here at OSU, and more. In addition, the FLC is now able to digitally capture these sessions and stream and/or reuse them.The presentation was well received. Many participants were interested to learn more about how we had done these events. Many were curious about costs and how these connections were made. The entire presentation can be downloaded from here!

REFERENCES: PRESENTATIONS (as appearing in this post)

Amy Hilbelink, “Out of Social Networking Sites”

David Stoloff, “Web Collaborations for an International, CrossCultural Education Colloquium”

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Part 2 of TOP FIVETwitter accounts to follow. This one is on technology blogs and stories. These are the best resources for updates on new technology- gadgets, websites, reviews, social networks, and other tech matters that will help you catch up with technology without having to do a whole lot of boring reading. These recommendations are based on my actual use and the value I have got out of these.

To recap - one of the recommendations I posted (especially for new users of Twitter) was to keep accounts you follow between 50-75 so that your Twitter page is not cluttered. Another recommendation was to experiment with follows and un-follows until you find the tweeters that fit YOUR needs and not just based on others' recommendations.So here goes:

Sunday, August 29, 2010

People from all walks of life ask me why and how I use Twitter. Why I use Twitter is because it is my primary source of information from people and organizations that I think are the best in the business. I get my news, tech information, local events, and even humor and daily inspiration from Twitter. They all pop-up in my Twitter page and I glance at it a few times a day and sometimes look at the links that are mentioned. These few minutes give me a wealth of information on things that I need and care about the most.

How I use Twitter is still a work in progress since it has evolved from following a bunch of random people to now (more) knowing what and whom I follow (and un-follow). I look at lists for the best tweeters in the various fields I am most interested (example - education, technology, sports, entertainment, local events, etc) and pick the top few (on my own terms) and follow them for a while and then keep or un-follow them, if need be. I also try and keep the tweeters between 50-75 so that my Twitter page is not cluttered.

In the next few posts, I will provide a Top Five list of accounts that I follow and recommend – according to categories like Technology, Education, Entertainment, Local events, etc. For those of you are who are new to Twitter, or are considering Twitter, or even looking for a strategy, these TOP FIVE lists will be a good launching pad for your own Twitter account.

I start with local events (in Columbus) since technology and education will surely scare off some people, and I want you to get a feel of how Twitter can get you information that can be useful in your personal life (besides your professional).

Friday, July 30, 2010

Many of us who use YouTube do not do use any search strategies besides typing your keywords in the search box and scrolling through the hundreds (or hundred thousand) videos that are listed. But there are better ways!

YouTube has changed over time and has modified its interface as recent as March 30, 2010. Over the years it has given users additional tools for searching, many of which get little or no use. In this 2 part post I will show you how to use effective search strategies within YouTube so you get to what you want quicker and have lots of time for music and kitty videos (No, not that kind!)

Lets look at 1. Search Options and 2. Customize

1. SEARCH OPTIONSJust below the YouTube SEARCH BOX (at the very top) there is a Search Option.After typing for a video, you can limit your search by using search options

For example - You can search for videos that were uploaded just in the last month, or videos that are short (less than 4 minutes) or videos that are High Definition (HD). This will greatly reduce the number of videos that you have to scroll through.

NOTE – Remember to click RESET OPTION (TOP RIGHT) once you are done with your current search; else it will keep your search options for the next search as well.

2. CUSTOMIZE

Scroll all the way to the very bottom of the page. (see image below)Look for the LANGUAGE/ LOCATION/ SAFETY MODE options

Click Language: English Choose your language. This will change the interface to the language of your choice. OK, this does not narrow down the number if videos, but it can be very useful for people comfortable in other languages (hence saving time!)

Now click Location: WorldwideChoose the country from that you would like to view content (videos and channels). This will help when you are searching for videos specifically from another country (e.g. - Mexico, Spain, etc).

There is also a Safety Mode. By Default it is Safety Mode: OffClicking ON in the safety mode helps to negate listing videos that contain potentially objectionable material on YouTube. This can be useful if you are showing videos for your kids or in a classroom setting. (YouTube has a disclaimer that this is not 100% accurate, but it is quite useful) .

So there you go - 2 easy and effective ways to narrow down your searches.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

One of my busiest weeks as Technology Integration Specialist at OSU wrapped up on June 18. This was THE week for ‘Tech Tools: Technology Tools for the Foreign Language Classroom’ - an intensive workshop for language instructors. During this eventful week, the learners explored a range of technology to create activities for foreign languages. Learners included PhD candidates, schoolteachers, and administrators who were all involved with language teaching/curriculum.

These inquisitive learners were immersed in a variety of online tools and popular classroom technology from Day 1 Hour 1. Technologies included Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, Skype, Audacity, YouTube, Windows Movie Maker, Google Earth, PowerPoint, and more. Pedagogy related to the use of such technology was an essential component of the workshop. They started Day 1 by creating a teaching philosophy that they expanded by the end of the week and also added a technology component to these teaching philosophies. All this new technology brought out some good questions from the learners:

How will our teaching change as we participate in the "Read/Write" web and how do we better prepare our students to be collaborators?

What will become relevant and irrelevant in this new age? Will cyberspace replace bricks-and-mortar buildings with digital libraries? Will teachers be passé?

My other reaction is that I feel disappointed in some of these technological changes. I was horrified when I read that the fastest growing user group is the age group 2-5!

The principal technology behind the participants’ interaction was a wiki (created using Google Sites). Learners also learned how to create, use, and interact within a wiki environment. One leaner said, “I was amazed by the idea of a Wiki.... to be able to check facts about an article and to change it...like a real verbal interaction. Wiki is a very useful tool in a language class where the goal is interaction.”

Learners also experimented with the use of blogs and how it can be utilized in a language classroom environment. Multimedia editing was a big part of the curriculum. Visual literacy was a big component of multimedia creation. Learners were able to edit and use audio and video files with Audacity and MS Movie Maker, and incorporate these into Podcasts, YouTube, and Skype to make lessons interactive and fun for their students.

On the final day, the participants seemingly ready with the new set of technology tools presented their lesson plans. The anticipation was heavier than the release of the newest ‘Twilight’ movie (or close enough!). The learners presented lesson plans with a range of video and audio, interactive PowerPoint, use of YouTube videos, use of Wikis, Google Earth components, all successfully incorporated. It was quite an accomplishment for the learners and for the workshop instructors as well, since we had invested months in planning, designing, and presenting. The grueling week had finally come to a satisfying end!

Some of the quotes from the learners (after the week):

A lot of students tend to be very creative when using technology and it helps putting what they have learned into practice.

I will keep these possibilities in mind while incorporating these types of ideas into my own teaching style.

I love all of this technology but it is all complicated. Fantastic when it works!

It's a jumping-off point to get me headed in the right direction. And with Tech Tools 2 next summer (hint, hint), I could return more prepared and tech-savvy to my classroom.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Streaming radio/music stations have been around for over two decades now. However in the last 8 years or so, streaming web stations where you can customize your music choice have been popular. Pandora and Last.Fm are the leaders of this pack.

The concept behind both these services is that you stream music based on your listening preferences. Listeners create ‘stations’ based on artists and/or genres and the database behind these services send you music on your computer or mobile device. The streams themselves are generated by each service’s (quite) complex formula of similarity of music based on artist, genre, style, mood, year, etc.

Pandora is very popular in America and is the leader of the industry. Last.Fm is also popular, but is more popular in the UK and Germany (2 other countries where it is free!). They both have similar features – use on mobile devices, ability to buy music, social networking, artist information and more. But they are different as you peel off the skin-layers.

Here is a comparison of the 2 services (Winner in RED) :

Cost

Free for 40 hrs per month. US only

Free in US, UK and Germany; Unlimited radio play. $3.00 in most other countries

Language

English only

English and 10 languages

Cell phone application

Yes – all major phones

Yes – some major phones

Upgrade

Yes $36 annually, Pandora One

$3/month, Subscriber

Stream generated by (Database)

Music Genome Project 400 distinct music characteristics

Audioscrobbler – based on users listening habits

Videos

Video series and ‘inside looks’. But NO artist search

Yes – search of artist generates videos (from YouTube) as well

Buy Music

Yes (ITunes and Amazon)

Yes (Amazon)

Shows/Events/ Calendars

NO

Yes detailed shows and venues information, including recommendations for user

Social networking

Yes – can see friends and their stations and bookmarked songs/artists. Can leave comment

Yes - Very advanced Facebook and MySpace like features

Desktop Client Player

Yes (with Upgraded version)

Yes FREE– ITunes, Windows Media Player, etc

Label and Artist uploads

No

Yes: For Free (Great for aspiring artists/bands)

My verdict - If you want to listen to your type of music and are less interested in social networking and additional features, (no-frills) then Pandora is for you.If you are interested in learning more about music, getting your own band recognized, are interested in live music, and want to connect with other people with like tastes, then Last.Fm is for you.

Winner:Last.FM(Look for Part 2 - More feature comparisons - including searching, groups, charts, tags and more!!)

Monday, February 1, 2010

If you know me, you know I love movies.I also dig technology. Technology is also my job and it pays me.

Movies + Technology = Sci-Fi Movies

Presented here for your viewing pleasure is a list of Sci-Fi movies that needs attention and some others you need not bother. This list has gone through rigorous discussions with other avid movie people and tech geeks.....and as expected, there is no real consensus. But its still a big list and can be used at least for reference.

(Note - If something is not on the list, it means I didn't care about it or I have I not had the opportunity.)

ABOUT THE CATEGORIESFavorites - Does not need explainingClose to the Top - Some of the very best; Probably on others' favorites.Also Very Good- Well made and worth the time.Didn't Like em as Much- People thought it was good, but it was missing something for meDuds - Wasted my money, time, and brain cellsHave Not Seen - but might see it soon

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Here's more about the best of the best, and movies that you should not miss.These are the films that have not just a great story, but a theme that carry over time and generation. These have been very well directed and have been ahead of its time and have spawned countless other films and even genres.

Please feel to free to comment on what you think about this list and why something in this list should or should not be there!

1. 2001: A Space OdysseyThe more I watch the movie, the more I marvel at it. Its not-so-subtle themes of evolution, AI, and extra-terrestrial life though covered by countless other films, have never been more thought provoking (with literally little to say).The ending is spectacular and probably why all of it made so much sense (or no sense to many).It is Kubrick's masterpiece, although he has done many other excellent films.

2. Terminator 2If you were not afraid of cops, you certainly were after Terminator 2. James Cameron's highly successful film was a non-stop thriller ride and had cutting edge special effects that was dynamite in the movie and all the way to the bank making it one of the most successful films even today.Arnold's best movie to date and probably the one that won him the California governorship.

3. GattacaGattaca went unnoticed for a lot of people, but this quiet movie hit me like a perfect storm. The underlying identity theme, the 'you are not good enough' story line, and the post-modern futuristic world was powerful to keep me thinking for months and years. The film also had excellent acting that is rare in so many sci-fi movies and did not rely on action and explosions to make its mark.

4. The MatrixThe horrendous sequels to the Matrix could not extract it from this list. The coolness factor in the film was not just the leather and vinyl, or the special effects, or the kungfu, or the action sequences, or even the badasssentient agents, but the fact that the Wachowski brothers gave themselves the license to do whatever they wanted with the inherent 'matrix' idea.

5. Mad Max - Road WarriorDespite the fact that Mel Gibson has lost all dignity, I still remember that as a kid no movie was as kick-ass as the Road Warrior. The crashing, burning, flying, boomeranging action in the film are some of the best ever. The strange characters, the Australian desert, and that crazy accent gives it an out-of-this-world feel. It still holds up against the big budget action and sci-fi films and hence walks into this list.

6. Back To The Future (I)Name me any other sci-fi movie that is also funny, has a great story, great music, eccentric characters taken from your own town, and a (literally) high-wired climax that's memorable and still does not need any geek status to enjoy. Back to The Future made sci-fi accessible for all and also made it fun. It opened up the doors for everyone else to enjoy a sci-fi and be able to relate to the experience.

7. AkiraThis powerful Anime based on the extremely popular manga series is not a 'cartoon' and not really for kids either. With overt tones of ESP, gang wars, anti-government, and terrorism, this film was ahead of the curve in many ways. Its detail to production, art, sound, and complexities in the storyline makes it a forerunner for not just animation films, but films in general. (Please watch it in Japaneseto appreciate the details in voice and facial expression.)

Friday, January 29, 2010

This is a part of the post: Best Films on TechnologyThis individual post is more about the films on technology that I have heard good things about, but have not had the time to see.If there are more films that you think I should include in the list, please post a comment or contact me:

YET TO SEE

Moon (2009)

Rollerball (1975)

This ones come highly recommended.Is it out on BlueRay, yet?

Ghost in the Shell

Also something, I should have seen inthe theater.

Solaris (1972)

I did see the 2002 version, and itreminded me of 2001: Space Odyssey.Anything that resembles my favoriteSci-Fi gets thrown out the door.But I am willing to give the 1972version a try.

This is a part of the post: Best Films on TechnologyThis individual post is more about the films on technology that I know that people liked or even loved, but I did not feel the same. These were certainly not BAD films, but they did not connect with me for some reason or another.Please feel free to comment on why you think any of these deserve to be on another list:

Did Not Like em As Much As Others Did

Donnie Darko

ET

I liked it OK as a kid and like it even less now.

Fahrenheit 457

Read the book. Its gripping! The movie is just OK.

Ghostbusters

My friends love the movie. My first impression (in a small TV) was not very good and it has not changed much over time. It is funny though.

Minority Report

Such a cool concept. Such a waste!

Pleasantville

The Abyss

Cutting edge technology, but not enough to keep me interested and coming back for seconds.